793.94/10048a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Minister in Switzerland (Harrison)
54. Supplementing my No. 51, of September 7, 6 p.m., it has been our experience over a number of years that members of the League will endeavor to obtain from the United States assurances as to American action under hypothetical conditions. For instance, they may ask “In the event that the Chinese appeal is referred to the First Commission and the United States is invited to sit thereon, would an American representative be designated?” We have sometimes found that the hypothetical conditions did not develop and that, due to our replying to such hypothetical questions, the United States found itself far in advance of other powers in commitment. In view of the foregoing, I suggest that you refuse even to speculate with representatives of other nations as to what decision your Government will make under given conditions. It appears to us an eminently tenable position that some 50 states should make up their minds and express themselves on a given [Page 16] problem before any one state, outside of their organization, is asked to commit itself.
We have already sent instructions in this sense to Bullitt, who has been approached by Delbos with hypothetical questions.
There is, however, one piece of advice of a negative character that you might convey to League members upon inquiry. It seems improbable that the United States would want to sit on the First Commission, in the event that it is requested to do so, in order to discuss the Chinese question, or upon any other public body, especially one newly constituted. The acceptance of such an invitation would be a political act of visible importance.
I shall be particularly interested in receiving from you any impressions which you obtain from member states, particularly from Great Britain and France as to whether they are inclined to consider that a “state of war” exists in China and, if so, whether they contemplate any action in respect to neutrality. I do not need to urge upon you the necessity for discretion in such inquiry.
Cable when you are proceeding Geneva.